5 best day trips from London

Day trip to Oxford

As one of the most popular destinations to visit from London, Oxford is a perfect place for a day trip to escape the fog of the big city. Best known for the University of Oxford, a prestigious institution and one of the oldest universities in the world, the city is home to numerous landmarks that draw visitors from all over the world. There’s no shortage of things to do in Oxford. Explore sights like the Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, the Oxford Botanic Garden, and more on your trip.

How far is Oxford from London?

At just over 80 kilometers (50 miles) away, traveling to Oxford from London is quick and easy. By train, the trip is just over an hour, but can be even shorter if traveling by car. If traveling by bus, travel time is usually around 2 hours.

Day trip to Bath

Known for its historic baths and spas, Bath" is one of the most popular day trip destinations from London. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city sees almost 4 million day trip visitors per year. If you’re looking for things to do in Bath, the Roman Baths and the Thermae Bath Spa are some of the city’s most popular points of interest. After some rest and relaxation, make sure to visit sights like the Circus, Jane Austen Centre, or Pulteney Bridge.

How far is Bath from London?

Traveling the 175 kilometers (108 miles) from London to Bath by car will take you just under three hours. To cut down on that travel time, take the train from Paddington Station to arrive in under two hours.

Day trip to Cambridge

Taking a day trip from London to Cambridge is the perfect way to explore one of England’s quintessential university towns. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge has facilitated the growth of the city as one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the world. You’ll find plenty of things to do in Cambridge outside of the university, like visiting the Fitzwilliam Museum or the Bridge of Sighs.

How far is Cambridge from London?

You can travel from London to Cambridge in an hour by train, leaving from Kings Cross station. If you decide to drive the 100 kilometers (62 miles) to Cambridge from London, you’ll double your travel time and arrive in about two hours.

Day trip to Stonehenge

The home of one oldest standing structures in the world, a day trip to Stonehenge from London is a must for any self-respecting history buff. Said to have been constructed between 3000 and 2000 B.C., the UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most famous ancient sights in the world and is visited by over 1 million people each year. While just seeing the monument in person is incredible in its own right, we highly recommend taking a guided tour to make the most of your experience.

How far is Stonehenge from London?

Located in Wiltshire, England, the monument is just over 140 kilometers (87 miles) away from London. The trip is about 2 hours by car or train, so make sure to set aside plenty of travel time when you visit.

Day trip to the Cotswolds

For those looking to get out to the countryside, a day trip from London to the Cotswolds is the perfect rural escape. While the pace of life out in the country might be a little bit slower, you’ll find plenty of things to do in the Cotswolds. You’ll find walking trails at Westonbirt, famous fortresses like Sudeley Castle, and beautiful gardens like Hidcote Manor Garden.

How far are the Cotswolds from London?

About 175 kilometers (108 miles) west of London, driving to the Cotswolds will take you a little over two hours. If you’re interested in taking the train, make sure to start your day early, as the travel time is usually over four hours.

London day trip FAQ

What transportation options are best for my day trip from London?

Wondering how to get to Oxford? Or the best way to visit Stonehenge? With so many transport options for your day trip from London, you might have trouble deciding which suits your travel plans best.

London day trips by train

With numerous stations across the city, traveling from London by train is an accessible option for almost any day trip. Some of the biggest stations in the city are St. Pancras, Waterloo, Paddington, and King’s Cross. Many day trip tour options include train transfers from London with the ticket price.

London day trips by bus

Many coach companies offer transportation for day trips from London by bus. In fact, many guided tour tickets include bus transport, and some even offer hotel pickup to make your day trip to Cambridge or the Cotswolds even easier.

London day trips by car

Of course, you may want to take the transportation for your day trip from London into your own hands. Traveling by car will often be the fastest option for getting around England and will offer you the most flexibility if you want to take detours and explore on your own.

Should I take a guided tour for my day trip?

Whether you want to see the unknown parts of a city or simply have somebody curate your day trip for you, nothing beats taking a guided tour. Whether visiting Bath or Brighton, having an expert guide lead you through your destination will help provide insight and understanding that you simply couldn’t get on your own.

What should I pack for my day trip?

What you need to pack for your day trip depends on where you’re going and what kind of ticket you’ve purchased. If you’re taking a guided tour, everything you need may be provided with your ticket. Because day trips from London are all mostly in England, and the weather can be unpredictable, carrying a light jacket for the cold and rain always makes sense.

Other Sightseeing Options in London

What people are saying about London

If you are a Harry Potter fan, you MUST do this!

This was truly an amazing place to visit and it was all organized so well! We had met one person who told us that we will be taking the train with him (while handing us tickets) and guided us from the train station to the bus, where is also told us how to get back to London from the train station since we had open ended train tickets for our return. We then had a new guide inside the studio. She was someone who was enjoyable, but really focused on what her interests were. I understand that there is A LOT to see, but for example, we stood in front of the description of the directors of the films from over the years and explained why they did these movies, etc. That is information we could have Googled if we wanted to. She did point out a lot of small details throughout the tour that really big Harry Potter fans would enjoy. After the guided tour, you were allowed to go back into the exhibits and take your time reading and reviewing. Overall, this was a very memorable experience.

Wonderful tour with outstanding tour guide

What a wonderful tour to get outside the city of London. We had a lovely gentleman and about 6 other people in the group to take the train from London to Windsor. I truly believe the guide makes or breaks an activity and our guide was very knowledgeable. As far as his task, he met us at the train station, talked to us on the train, and walked around Windsor briefly before sending us on our merry way inside the Windsor Castle. From there, you have an audio guide of the castle and estate. Very nice! Took about 2 hours and then we had time to explore the surrounding area. We had an open ending train ticket back to London which was nice to know that there was time to spare in order to enjoy the quaint area. Plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy. Had such a lovely time there that I would even consider staying in that area if traveling to London again!

Great trip, great guides, and would recommend for everyone.

Trip was great, I really enjoyed the guides and their friendly personalities. Finding the bus in the morning was easy and the trip to Dover was seamless as our driver called out some great London views. Our loca guide, Lucy was friendly and knowledgeable. Cliffs of Dover and Dover Castle were great. Not enough time for the WWII tunnel tour but plenty of time fore everything else. Wish there was another hour in Canterbury to explore outside the Cathedral but it was nice being back around 6 in London. I would highly recommend!

Very good tour with excellent tour guide

Our tour guide was absolutely incredible and she made our day one I'll never forget. She was always very willing to answer our questions and always had a smile on her face. The timing of each tour was well done but wouldn't have minded to spend more time at Oxford, but because we had three places to see, it wouldn't be possible. Cant recomend this tour any higher.

This was a well planned and guided tour.

Our guide, Morton, was very informative and also very attentive and clear in his instructions. I enjoyed all the sights, especially Leeds Castle, which was a surprise. My main purpose was to see Canterbury. I would have liked a bit more time in Greenwich.